ESL Program Services Services provided for all Limited English Proficient (LEP) students emphasize listening, speaking, reading and writing in English. At all magnet locations, LEP students work with an ESL specialist/teacher during part of the school day and are mainstreamed for part of the day with grade-level peers.As students work on their English skills, ESL teachers help them integrate their English learning into all areas of the curriculum. Support is provided for students in the mainstream classroom as they learn vocabulary and concepts relating to all core curriculum areas.Magnet school teachers and staff have special training in multicultural education, and encourage LEP students to share their heritage and culture with English speaking peers. This fosters friendships and a sense of belonging for all students. Elementary School Elementary ESL students are served at four magnet school sites. Students receive a minimum of 45 minutes of intensive language arts/English instruction daily in an ESL classroom. They are mainstreamed in regular classrooms for the remainder of the day. The ESL teacher assists the classroom teacher with developing appropriate curriculum for ESL students. During ESL class time, elementary Limited English Proficient (LEP) students work in small groups with children who have attained a similar level of English language development. The program emphasizes the following skills: Social communication
Basic vocabulary building and concepts
English usage including grammar and structure
Reading skills with emphasis on pronunciation, decoding and comprehension
Writing skills based on the Six Trait Writing Model
Technology plays an important part in helping students improve their English language skills. The ESL resource rooms are equipped with modern computers, leading edge software, and Internet access.
Middle School The middle school ESL magnet program includes 6th, 7th and 8th grade students from different language and cultural backgrounds who need help developing English proficiency. Services are provided for Limited English Proficient (LEP) students at all levels, from non-English speakers to proficient speakers who need assistance with speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Students receive individual and small group help in all English language skills, including listening, speaking, reading and writing. The ESL teacher provides instruction to beginning students in Language Arts and Social Studies and supports their work in other academic areas with the classroom teacher. As students progress, they spend more time in mainstreamed classes and use the ESL resource room as a place to go for assistance in all curricular areas. High School Limited English Proficient (LEP) students are provided with classes which offer full academic credit in English and Social Studies at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced English proficiency levels. The emphasis of these classes include:
developing skills in understanding, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking in English
providing whole class and individual instruction
providing the same content/curriculum experienced by all District 20 high school students while developing English proficiency
The average high school student schedule consists of seven classes per week. LEP students take five to six regular classes and one to two ESL classes. ESL class size ranges from seven to fourteen students. Students are provided with direct help in their other academic classes when necessary. The ESL teacher regularly consults with classroom teachers to help students with their courses and contacts counselors to plan the transition from high school into further education or careers.
Services provided for all Limited English Proficient (LEP) students emphasize listening, speaking, reading and writing in English. At all magnet locations, LEP students work with an ESL specialist/teacher during part of the school day and are mainstreamed for part of the day with grade-level peers. As students work on their English skills, ESL teachers help them integrate their English learning into all areas of the curriculum. Support is provided for students in the mainstream classroom as they learn vocabulary and concepts relating to all core curriculum areas. Magnet school teachers and staff have special training in multicultural education, and encourage LEP students to share their heritage and culture with English speaking peers. This fosters friendships and a sense of belonging for all students.
Elementary School
Elementary ESL students are served at four magnet school sites. Students receive a minimum of 45 minutes of intensive language arts/English instruction daily in an ESL classroom. They are mainstreamed in regular classrooms for the remainder of the day. The ESL teacher assists the classroom teacher with developing appropriate curriculum for ESL students.
During ESL class time, elementary Limited English Proficient (LEP) students work in small groups with children who have attained a similar level of English language development. The program emphasizes the following skills:
Social communication
- Basic vocabulary building and concepts
- English usage including grammar and structure
- Reading skills with emphasis on pronunciation, decoding and comprehension
- Writing skills based on the Six Trait Writing Model
- Technology plays an important part in helping students improve their English language skills. The ESL resource rooms are equipped with modern computers, leading edge software, and Internet access.
Middle SchoolThe middle school ESL magnet program includes 6th, 7th and 8th grade students from different language and cultural backgrounds who need help developing English proficiency. Services are provided for Limited English Proficient (LEP) students at all levels, from non-English speakers to proficient speakers who need assistance with speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.
Students receive individual and small group help in all English language skills, including listening, speaking, reading and writing. The ESL teacher provides instruction to beginning students in Language Arts and Social Studies and supports their work in other academic areas with the classroom teacher. As students progress, they spend more time in mainstreamed classes and use the ESL resource room as a place to go for assistance in all curricular areas.
High School
Limited English Proficient (LEP) students are provided with classes which offer full academic credit in English and Social Studies at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced English proficiency levels. The emphasis of these classes include:
- developing skills in understanding, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking in English
- providing whole class and individual instruction
- providing the same content/curriculum experienced by all District 20 high school students while developing English proficiency
The average high school student schedule consists of seven classes per week. LEP students take five to six regular classes and one to two ESL classes. ESL class size ranges from seven to fourteen students.Students are provided with direct help in their other academic classes when necessary. The ESL teacher regularly consults with classroom teachers to help students with their courses and contacts counselors to plan the transition from high school into further education or careers.